What will $380 million in payroll get the Mets this season? If they are fortunate, something better than a last-place finish in the NL East.

Team owner Steve Cohen, in talking to reporters this week, preached a more disciplined spending approach as he and president of baseball operations David Stearns look to resurrect this wreckage and contend in 2027.

The looming question, of course, surrounds MLB’s expiring collective bargaining agreement and how that might impact the financial landscape.

“We have to look at some other areas to make this team better as opposed to just writing big checks to get the best players,” Cohen said.